Alcohol

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they will take regarding supermarkets selling wine or beer at less than cost price.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The department commissioned the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) at the University of Sheffield to produce an independent review of the effects of alcohol price, promotion, consumption and harm. The review has 2 phases:
	phase 1 systematically identified, appraised and synthesised international evidence on the relationship between alcohol price, promotion, consumption and harm. Summary of the first phase, published on 22 July, found significant links between price and youth and heavy drinkers, but it has less of an impact on moderate and occasional drinkers; andphase 2 explored the potential impact of potential policy changes in this area, especially the population-based impact on health, crime and the wider economy for the population as a whole and also with a focus on young people under 18 who drink alcohol; 18 to 24 year-old hazardous drinkers; and harmful drinkers whose patterns of drinking damage their physical/mental health or cause substantial harm to others.
	Findings from the review are expected to be published this year and are intended to inform understanding of retail practices and whether they are linked to excessive drinking and whether government intervention, including controls on price and price-based promotions, is likely to be proportionate and have a significant beneficial impact.

Alcohol

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McKenzie of Luton on 12 November (WA 130—31), whether they conduct any research on the health consequences of awarding benefits to those experiencing long-term excess alcohol consumption.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: We do not conduct research on the health consequences of awarding benefits to people experiencing long-term excess alcohol consumption.

Armed Forces: Pipers

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to reply to the Question for Written Answer tabled by Lord Morris of Manchester on 29 September (HL5324) on the decision of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to stop pipers from the Royal Gurkha Rifles and the Irish Guards from honouring their commitment to perform in Moscow in September.

Lord Malloch-Brown: This question was answered on 4 November (Official Report, 4/11/08, col. WA 25).

Armed Forces: Separation Allowance

Baroness D'Souza: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the longer separation allowance (LSA), in force since April 2007, is subject to taxation.

Lord Myners: Longer separation allowance (LSA) forms part of a service man or woman's wider remuneration package and as such is taxable in the same way as pay. LSA was introduced to replace other taxable allowances as recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body. It would be unfair to give this income a beneficial and tax-free status over and above other forms of taxable income.

Armed Forces: War Pensions

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it remains their view that the Pensions Appeal Tribunal for determining war pension appeals will be part of the Social Entitlement Chamber of the new tribunals system, rather than continuing as a discrete specialised jurisdiction.

Lord Bach: The Pensions Appeal Tribunal (England and Wales) was transferred into the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal on 3 November 2008. The decision to create a separate War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber came about after the Armed Forces community raised serious concerns about the Government's initial proposal to transfer the PAT (E&W) jurisdiction into the Social Entitlement Chamber.
	Following discussions with the Confederation of British Service and ex-Service Organisations (COBSEO) and other stakeholders, the Government were convinced that the best outcome for service and ex-service men and women was to establish a separate chamber. The Government believe this approach properly reflects the special nature of the relationship between service personnel and the Government and that the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber should therefore continue as a separate chamber within the First-tier Tribunal.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the advice offered by the Kuwaiti Community Association on the identification of persons claiming Bidoon status seeking political asylum in the United Kingdom.

Lord West of Spithead: In order to establish an asylum applicant's identity and nationality, a screening interview is usually carried out when an asylum claim is first made. Any additional information required is obtained by conducting further interviews. This is then considered against the latest available country information on the situation of Bidoon in Kuwait.
	The UKBA monitor the human rights situation in all countries that generate asylum seekers to the UK on the basis of information from a wide range of recognised and publicly disclosable governmental, non-governmental and human rights sources. Asylum decision makers take into account the human rights situation in the country of origin of each asylum applicant when making a decision on an asylum claim. Copies of these country reports are published at www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/country_reports.html.

Banking

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will reconsider the terms of their bank recapitalisation scheme (a) to enable assisted banks to pay dividends on ordinary shares before the redemption of government preference shares is complete; and (b) to encourage private participation in the anticipated ordinary share issues.

Lord Myners: The Government have, since the scheme was announced in October, indicated their willingness to consider early repayment of the preference shares that they hold at a price equal to 101 per cent of par during the first six months, after the closing of the placing and open offer, and, thereafter, at a price to be negotiated based on prevailing market conditions at the time. Such repayment would be subject to FSA approval. As soon as the preference shares are repaid, payment of cash dividends would be permitted.
	The banks have made clear in their public statements their intention to repay the Treasury's preference shares as soon as it is prudent to do so.
	The terms of the recapitalisation scheme allow for existing ordinary shareholders to subscribe (without limit) to the proposed issue of ordinary shares.

BBC: Staff

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have proposals to restrict the level of salaries and fees paid by the BBC to its staff and performers.

Lord Carter of Barnes: This is a matter for the BBC. Under the terms of the charter and agreement, the BBC is independent of government, and there is no provision for government to intervene in its day-to-day affairs.

Bloody Sunday: Saville Inquiry

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ask Lord Saville of Newdigate to include in the report of the Bloody Sunday inquiry a summary of findings and recommendations.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The content of the report is a matter for the independent inquiry.

Broadcasting: Decency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have proposals to improve monitoring of standards of decency within which the BBC should operate.

Lord Carter of Barnes: In relation to broadcasting, Parliament has charged Ofcom with maintaining standards, notably to protect children and to protect the general public from harmful and offensive material. Decisions on broadcast programme standards are a matter for Ofcom to determine according to the provisions of the Broadcasting Acts and the Communications Act. It is a long-standing principle that the Government do not interfere in programme matters, either on arrangements for scheduling or on content. Furthermore, the BBC Trust has a role in securing appropriate standards in the content of the BBC's services.

Cabinet Office: Website

Lord Norton of Louth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Cabinet Office removed its web page listing all open consultations being conducted by departments; and what plans they have to reintroduce such a web page.

Lord Carter of Barnes: The Cabinet Office discontinued this service as the system was not picking up all consultations, the cost of the service had increased and the site was receiving a low number of hits. However, the recent review of government consultation practices and policy, which led to a new code of practice on consultation coming into force on 1 November 2008, found that a comprehensive service of live consultations would be welcomed by stakeholders. The Better Regulation Executive in BERR is working with the Directgov team of the Central Office of Information to deliver such a service in the future. This would automatically pick up all consultation exercises published by central government. In the mean time, those looking for an overview are advised to visit the service run by the Department for Communities and Local Government at www.info4local.gov.uk.

Courts Service

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by Lord Bach on 29 October (WA 166), what is their assessment of the impact of the savings agreed by Her Majesty's Courts Service and the Tribunals Service on access to justice; and what is the basis of that assessment.

Lord Bach: It has been clear since the publication of MOJ's CSR07 settlement that the department and its constituent bodies, including HMCS, would have to reduce budgets. Work on implementing the efficiency savings plan for MOJ for 2008-09 is under way.
	We are currently developing the performance and efficiency plan for MOJ and its constituent bodies, including HMCS and TS, to cover 2009-10 and 2010-11. When that plan is agreed for 2009-10 and 2010-11, we will be in a position fully to understand the impact on HMCS and TS. However, our top priority remains running our courts effectively and efficiently, prioritising front-line services to court and tribunal users.
	We expect there to be a reduction in head count in parts of MOJ, but we anticipate that a large part of that will come from reductions in agency staff and contractors. Exact numbers will only be available once we have completed our planning exercise.

Courts Service

Lord Selsdon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What new courts are under construction in London; and in each case (a) when construction was ordered; (b) how many courtrooms are being built; (c) what will be its purpose; (d) what is the estimated date of completion; (e) what was the estimated cost at the date of the announcement of the project; and (f) what is the current estimated cost of completion.

Lord Bach: There are three new court schemes under construction in London namely the Business Court, City of Westminster Magistrates' Court and Isleworth Crown Court (extension). The respective information for each building is as follows:
	
		
			  Business Court City of Westminster Isleworth Crown 
			 (a) 1/12/06 27/8/08 13/9/07 
			 (b) 31 10 6 
			 (c) Commercial High Court Magistrates' Court Crown Court 
			 (d) March 2011 March 2011 March 2009 
			 (e) £70 million £54.5 million £18.7 million 
			 (f) £80 million £54.5 million £19.2 million

Cuba: Prisoners

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Malloch-Brown on 17 June (HL3750), whether, in the light of evidence of the treatment and poor health care of political prisoners in Cuba, they will now make formal representations to the Government of Cuba on the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

Lord Malloch-Brown: We have not made specific representations to the Government of Cuba on the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. However, we and our EU partners regularly raise the issue of political prisoners and access to Cuban prisons for the International Red Cross with the Cuban authorities.
	A political dialogue between the EU and Cuba began earlier this year. The first meeting of the dialogue took place between EU troika ministers and the Cuban Foreign Minister in Paris on 16 October. Political prisoners and access to Cuban prisons were raised on this occasion.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of United Nations reports of Rwandan tanks firing across the border at Congolese troops and providing military support to Laurent Nkunda's rebel forces; and what representations they have made to the Government of Rwanda about this matter.

Lord Malloch-Brown: During the recent fighting, UN observers reported that shots had been fired across the border between Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. We understand from the UN mission to the DRC (MONUC) that the DRC military fired several mortars into Rwanda, after which the Rwandan military responded with fire from three T55 tanks.
	We continue to urge both the Rwandan and DRC governments to pursue political solutions to the problems in eastern DRC and to ensure the full implementation of the Nairobi and Goma agreements. To that end, we welcome the outcome of the Nairobi summit on 7 November, which I attended.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the implications for the United Kingdom's Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda of the cross-border fire from Rwanda on Congolese troops and other allegations of support for Congolese rebels.

Lord Malloch-Brown: During the recent fighting, UN observers reported that shots had been fired across the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. Conflicting reports indicated that the shooting had originated from both sides. We are trying to establish the facts on the ground.
	We continue to monitor events in eastern DRC closely and encourage the Governments of the two states to co-operate to resolve threats to regional security. We continue to have a frank dialogue with the Government of Rwanda on regional stability within the context of the agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they are making to the Government of Rwanda (a) to achieve a solution to Congolese-Rwandan relations; and (b) to create models for mineral exploitation that benefit the indigenous populations and help build sustainable civil societies.

Lord Malloch-Brown: My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary met President Kagame on 1 November with his French counterpart, when he urged President Kagame to back efforts to find a political solution to the problems in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I offered UK support for the political process to resolve the crisis at the regional summit in Nairobi on 7 November, which President Kagame attended. I met President Kagame in Kigali on 20 November and had an extensive discussion on Congolese-Rwandan relations.
	The Government are supporting the Government of the DRC in becoming a full member of the extractive industries transparency initiative (EITI). This will help DRC gain better control of its mineral wealth and use revenues for the population's benefit.
	The Government are also working in partnership with the provincial government of Katanga and carefully selected mining companies to improve the governance, transparency and regulation of the mining sector and support the Government of the DRC's health and education priorities. This will help drive up standards in the mining sector and provide a platform for helping ensure mineral wealth benefits the poor.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they will make (a) to support security sector reform in Congo and to encourage the Congolese authorities to take steps to achieve it; and (b) to encourage a co-ordinated security sector reform policy in the Congo within the European Union and internationally.

Lord Malloch-Brown: Transforming the military, police and justice sectors into professional, competent and accountable institutions capable of delivering security and justice for Congolese citizens is a key priority. On security sector reform, the UK has focused its support on the police and justice systems. This included a £9 million support package for elections security, of which £4 million went to the UN Development Programme basket fund for training and equipping the police to provide security for the elections and £5 million to the South African Police Service to provide a nationwide radio network for the police.
	In the defence sector, we have supported international efforts on the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of Congolese security forces as part of a wider security reform programme. Key areas of support include improving the basic living conditions of soldiers and their families in integrated brigades, delivering human rights training and supporting measures to ensure the delivery of pay (£7,200,000 overall between 2006 and 2008). The Department for International Development has also supported key justice sector reforms providing both legislative and technical assistance. In the longer term, we have initiated the design of a five-year security sector accountability and police programme (£80 million), which will be taken forward in partnership with Congolese stakeholders and international partners. We are working closely with Congolese stakeholders to take this programme forward and have agreed to put in place a high-level steering committee (including senior senate, national assembly and government representatives) to oversee implementation and act as a forum for high-level dialogue on key issues.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking to expedite the appointment, and establishment in post, of an independent special adviser on human rights for eastern Congo.

Lord Malloch-Brown: The UK Government have been fully supportive of the proposed appointment of a special adviser on human rights for eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to monitor commitments made under Article 3 of the Goma agreement. Officials have been pressing the Amani programme co-ordinator's office to present a proposal for this appointment, prior to considering funding arrangements with partners.
	For the special adviser's position to have legitimacy and be successful, both with the Government of DRC and armed groups in the region, it needs to be embedded in the Amani peace process and be owned by the Congolese. This process is currently on hold, awaiting re-engagement on the part of the armed groups. We are hoping that, as the Amani process resumes, the special adviser role can be taken forward.

Energy: Biofuels

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to encourage householders to use the derogation allowing them to manufacture up to 2,500 litres of biodiesel annually for use in their own vehicles.

Lord Myners: The 2,500 litre per annum biodiesel registration threshold was introduced in July 2007 as part of a package of measures aimed at reducing administrative and compliance costs and regulatory burdens.
	HMRC estimates that there are now between 1,000 and 1,250 own-use producers, compared with 800 when the threshold was introduced.

Energy: Nuclear

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress they have made in discussions with the French European Union presidency to achieve a reclassification of nuclear energy as a quasi-renewable power source.

Lord Malloch-Brown: No discussions have taken place with the French European Union presidency on the reclassification of nuclear energy. We have never argued that nuclear power is a renewable form of energy and do not believe it to be so.

Energy: Wind Farms

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each of the past three years and for each wind farm containing more than two turbines, what is (a) the capacity; (b) the expected annual output, maintenance time and downtime for other reasons; and (c) the actual annual output, maintenance time and downtime for other reasons.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The total capacity and actual annual output figures for UK wind farms with more than two turbines for the years 2005-07 are set out in the tables below. Information relating to individual wind farms is, however, commercial in confidence and cannot be released.
	
		
			 Onshore wind farms with two turbines or more 
			  No of sites Installed capacity (MW) Actual Generation (GWh) 
			 2005 116 1279.39 2377.98 
			 2006 137 1599.03 3454.26 
			 2007 167 2028.29 4365.22 
		
	
	Source: AEA Technology
	
		
			 Offshore wind farms with two turbines or more 
			  No of sites Installed capacity (MW) Actual Generation (GWh) 
			 2005 4 213.8 402.71 
			 2006 5 303.8 651.40 
			 2007 7 403.8 782.54 
		
	
	Source: AEA Technology
	Information on the expected maintenance time and downtime for other reasons is a commercial matter for the developers. However, for the purposes of our offshore wind capital grants scheme, all developers of round 1 demonstration projects are required to submit operations and maintenance reports for three consecutive years following commissioning of the wind farm. Each report details the efficiency and availability of the turbines, including information on downtime. There are currently four offshore wind farms in operation which have produced annual reports—North Hoyle, Scroby Sands, Kentish Flats and Barrow. Annual reports for the first operational year for the other offshore wind farms will be published in 2009. The reports can be found on the BERR publications website at www.berr.gov.uk/publications/reports/index.html.
	There are no formal requirements to publish this information for onshore wind farms. However, aggregated data on load factors are available in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) 2008 at www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/energy/statistics/source/renewables/page 18513.html.
	Information on capacity rating and monthly output for individual wind farms is available on the Ofgem website at www.renewablesandchp.ofgemgov.uk/.
	Further statistical information on wind farms and other sources of renewable energy in the UK can be found in chapter 7 of DUKES 2008 at http://stats. berr.gov.uk/energystats/dukes08_c7.pdf.

EU: Lisbon Treaty

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Malloch-Brown on 8 October (WA 15), whether the provisions in the treaty of Lisbon governing the European Union's legal personality and the use of the passerelle clause can be enacted under the treaty of Nice.

Lord Malloch-Brown: The Government believe that the Lisbon treaty is good for the UK and good for Europe. Parliament has approved the legislation to implement the Lisbon treaty in the UK.
	We do not support either renegotiating the Lisbon treaty or cherry picking parts of it and implementing them by a different route.

Forced Marriage

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they decided that the relevant third-party provisions of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 should be applied (with necessary safeguards) to local authorities but not to independent domestic violence advisers and other voluntary sector organisations; and
	When the relevant third-party provisions of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 will be applied to local authorities; and
	(a) which local independent domestic violence adviser has been chosen as a relevant third party for the purposes of their piloting a scheme in relation to the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007; (b) what are the terms of the scheme; and (c) when they envisage that the scheme will begin and end.

Lord Bach: The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 enables anyone to apply for a forced marriage protection order on behalf of a victim to protect them from forced marriage with the court's permission. The Act also enables the Lord Chancellor to make an order specifying a relevant third party (RTP) to make applications on behalf of a victim of forced marriage without the requirement to obtain the court's permission. It does not specify who should act as a relevant third party, when they should act or what safeguards might be needed for a victim of forced marriage.
	Relevant third parties take on a significant responsibility for making an application on behalf of a victim of forced marriage in the absence of judicial scrutiny, so it is important that only appropriate and competent persons or organisations act. The Government therefore consulted to establish what need there was for relevant third parties, what type of people or organisations should act and what safeguards were needed. The response to this consultation was published on 13 November 2008.
	The response to consultation showed that generally respondents favoured local authorities as a relevant third party for both adults and children. There was also some support for voluntary sector organisations to act as relevant third party for adults, although no voluntary organisation nominated itself. Respondents recognised that the absence of a leave process could place a victim at significant risk of harm. Therefore, it was seen as important that safeguards were in place to ensure that the victim was protected from possible misuse and that the applicant always acted in the victim's best interests.
	The response outlined the Government's decision to specify local authorities as relevant third parties. This will complement the existing role that local authorities have to protect children and vulnerable adults and will ensure that all victims, no matter where they live, have access to a local relevant third party.
	The response also outlined the Government's view that local authorities should actively seek advice from and work with voluntary organisations where possible and that a multi-agency approach could be used to support the victim. This will help to ensure an integrated and holistic approach to providing support for victims and recognises the different and complementary types of support that the public sector and voluntary sector provide. As outlined in the response, the work to prepare local authorities to become a relevant third party will look at defining the role of the relevant third party, when it should act, establishing what knowledge it requires to make an informed judgment and look at existing systems of accountability to ensure that applications are made in the best interests of the victim.
	The Government recognise the role that the voluntary sector plays in supporting victims of forced marriage. The success of the independent domestic violence advisers (IDVAs) has shown how the voluntary sector can play a key role in a multi-agency-based response to domestic violence with the victim at the heart of the process. Most IDVAs currently operate in the criminal magistrates' court, where there are specialist domestic violence courts (SDVCs), and many already have expertise in dealing with issues like forced marriage and are experienced multi-agency workers. Their work is carried out in accordance with recognised national standards and an accredited training programme. Services are subject to a monitoring and evaluation process, along with other agencies in the SDVC partnership, but specifically those receiving funding from this department towards the IDVA service are required to submit annual data about their workload. The response therefore outlined that there will be a pilot using a local existing IDVA service as an RTP.
	Broadly, we anticipate that concurrent schemes will run to assess the effectiveness of local authorities and IDVA services to act as a relevant third party. Appropriate safeguards will be built in to the process for each agency. We estimate it will require nine to 12 months, working together across government and with local government and the voluntary sector, to ensure everyone involved has the necessary guidance and information to act appropriately and effectively as a relevant third party. In the mean time, we will monitor the use of the Act in court and use any emerging information to shape and develop the RTP pilot.
	We intend to carry out a formal evaluation after a year of the provisions of the relevant third party coming into force. If this proves successful, we would look at extending the RTP provisions more widely across IDVAs as well as other voluntary sector organisations. There has been no decision taken as yet on which IDVA service will take part in the pilot scheme.
	It is important to emphasise that, pending the development and operation of the pilot, it will be possible for anyone, including local authorities and IDVAs, to apply for a protection order on behalf of a victim if they obtain the court's permission. This will ensure that victims of forced marriage can obtain the protection of the court where they cannot apply for a forced marriage protection order themselves. The court's scrutiny of an application for permission to apply for an order will ensure that the victim's best interests are safeguarded.

Government: Consultation

Lord Norton of Louth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that departments follow the practice of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills in making consultation papers available to third parties in machine-readable form.

Lord Carter of Barnes: The new code of practice on consultation came into force on 1 November 2008, and guidance is being developed to support implementation. The Better Regulation Executive (BRE) in BERR, as owner of consultation policy, keeps the guidance up-to-date in co-operation with the network of departmental consultation co-ordinators. As part of this programme, the BRE will work with DIUS and other interested parties in government on the development of guidance for officials on machine-readable formats.
	For the latest version of this guidance see www. berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/bre/consultation-guidance/page44420.html.

Government: Consultation

Lord Norton of Louth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that consultation papers are published in a manner that allows them to be integrated in third-sector surfaces.

Lord Carter of Barnes: The new code of practice on consultation came into force on 1 November 2008, and guidance is being developed to support implementation. The Better Regulation Executive (BRE) in BERR, as owner of consultation policy, keeps the guidance up-to-date in co-operation with the network of departmental consultation co-ordinators. As part of this programme, the BRE will work with the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office and other interested parties around government on this issue.

Government: Consultation

Lord Norton of Louth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps are taken to ensure that departments comply with the code of practice on consultation.

Lord Carter of Barnes: There are several systems in place to aid compliance with the code of practice on consultation. Consultation co-ordinators in departments work with policy officials to help them run consultations that are in line with the code. Officials in the Better Regulation Executive in BERR also work with departments on the development of many policies and are therefore often sighted on draft consultation documents where any potential deviations from the code might be spotted.
	Transparency also plays a significant role in aiding compliance. In accordance with the code (criterion 6.6), consultation documents cite the criteria of the code and give the contact details of the departmental consultation coordinator so that he or she can be contacted by anyone who feels that the exercise is not in line with the code. Moreover, departments are required, in the better regulation chapter of their annual reports, to describe their consultation activity over the year and the compliance of their consultation activities with the code.

Government: Consultation

Lord Norton of Louth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many consultation exercises have been undertaken by government departments since October 2007; and how many of them lasted or are due to last for the recommended period of at least 12 weeks.

Lord Carter of Barnes: The Government no longer collate data on this. However, the information is put into the public domain each year, as departments are required, in the better regulation chapter of their annual reports, to describe their consultation activity over the year and the compliance of their consultation activities with the code.

Government: Consultation

Lord Norton of Louth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many consultation documents produced by departments since July have been published in alternative formats, in line with recommendation 4.4 of the code of practice on consultation.

Lord Carter of Barnes: Criterion 4.4 of the new code of practice on consultation, which came into force on 1 November 2008, refers to alternative formats (for example, Welsh and other language versions, Braille, audio and so on). The online guidance which supports implementation of the code of practice also provides information on alternative formats stating,
	"You should also produce an alternative version if someone makes a reasonable request for it".
	Data on the use of alternative formats are not held centrally and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.

Government: Eurostar Travel

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much was spent on Eurostar rail travel in each of the past five years by (a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (b) the Home Office, (c) the Department of Health, and (d) HM Treasury.

Lord Malloch-Brown: The available figures are given below:
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	(Calendar years)
	2003—Figures for 2003 were not collated and are only available at disproportionate cost;2004—£358,717;2005—£437,217;2006—£122,581; and2007—£314,582
	Home Office
	Financial year 2007-08—£315,000
	Data for earlier years were not collated and are only available at disproportionate cost
	Department of Health
	July 2004 to March 2005—£71,582;
	Financial year 2005-06—£107,394;
	Financial year 2006-07—£48,202; and
	Financial year 2007-08—£34,682
	HM Treasury
	2005-06—£314,865;2006-07—£300,254; and2007-08—£373,143
	Data for earlier years were not collated and are only available at disproportionate cost.

Healthcare: Overseas

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the Valencian Government's decision to withdraw free health care for British residents who have retired there and are too young to receive a state pension or cannot take out private health care owing to existing health problems or both; and
	What assessment they have made of the extent to which the Valencian Government's decision to withdraw free health care for British residents who have retired there complies with the concept of European Union citizenship and of a Europe without frontiers.

Lord Malloch-Brown: Each EU member state has the right to define its own healthcare arrangements. The healthcare concession in Valencia was an exception in Spain, and its withdrawal brings Valencia into line with the rest of Spain. The new arrangements are compliant with EU law.
	When withdrawal of free healthcare was announced in June 2008 by the Valencian authorities, our embassy in Madrid intervened to ensure British citizens did not suddenly find themselves without cover. As a result, existing arrangements were extended until 15 January 2009.
	British citizens in receipt of a UK state pension or certain other benefits or who pay British or Spanish national insurance will not be affected by the change and will continue to have access to free state healthcare. The new, contributory Valencia scheme, due to come into effect in 2009, is open to all (including early retirees) and will accept individuals with pre-existing conditions.

House of Lords: Law Lords

The Earl of Caithness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many representations they have received since the passing of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 about the presence of Law Lords in the House of Lords; and from which individuals or organisations.

Lord Bach: Ministers have received two letters and one Parliamentary Question from the noble Lord, Lord Carlile of Berriew, answered by my noble friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 29 September 2008 (Official Report, col. WA416) specifically about the presence of Law Lords in the House of Lords since the passing of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.

House of Lords: Separation of Powers

The Earl of Caithness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the effect of the presence of (a) judges, and (b) Ministers in the House of Lords on the principle of the separation of powers.

Lord Bach: The Government set out in their proposals for establishing a separate Supreme Court the importance that they attached to a visible and institutional separation between the judiciary and the executive and the legislature.
	However the UK has never been governed under a system of the pure separation of powers. In a parliamentary democracy, where the executive are directly dependent on and constituted from the legislature, it is appropriate that the executive should be directly represented in both Houses of the legislature.

Housing: Benefits

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the remarks by Lord McKenzie of Luton on 10 November (Official Report, col. 521), what guidance they have issued to local authorities on monitoring applications to back-date housing and council tax benefit for periods of between three and six months; and
	Whether they have allocated resources to local authorities to monitor the impact of reducing the back-dating period for housing and council tax benefits.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The department receives data from local authority computer systems which include information on whether a claim is back-dated and for what period, broken down by client group (ie older people and working-age customers). By the end of 2009, we expect to have enough data from local authorities to inform our review of the new policy.
	In addition, authorities are requested to submit additional data by completing questions in the local authority omnibus survey, which is sent to all authorities in Great Britain every six months. The next survey includes questions about the new back-dating rules.
	The department provided funding to local authorities to support the shift towards the new method of collecting data, enabling local authorities to send information direct from their computer systems to the department, as part of the programme to reduce the data collection burden on local authorities.

Housing: Benefits

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What weight they give to evidence from advice agencies such as citizens advice bureaux and Shelter in making decisions on housing and council tax benefit reform.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: We always give very careful consideration to the representations made by all key stakeholders, including Citizens Advice and Shelter. These organisations, among others, made representations in response to the proposed changes to the back-dating rules, and as a result the Government were able to agree to an amendment to the original proposal. We have now introduced a six-month back-dating provision for working-age customers, and we will review these arrangements at the end of 2009.
	The views of organisations such as Citizens Advice and Shelter have to be looked at alongside the views of other stakeholders, including our customers, local authorities and their representative associations. We also have to give due weight to the costs and benefits of any policy proposal, making sure the interests of the taxpayer are reflected in any final decision.

Housing: Homes and Communities Agency

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the budget for setting up the Homes and Communities Agency; and what proportion of this budget is assigned for publicity and branding.

Baroness Andrews: The costs of the Homes and Communities Agency are set out in the Housing and Regeneration Bill impact assessment. This states that the one-off cost of setting up the Homes and Communities Agency will be £20 million over three years.
	It is not possible at this time to provide a reliable estimate of the proportions of the expected cost that will be devoted to the publicity and branding identified.

Iraq: Christians and Mandaeans

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they are giving to providing temporary visas and emergency accommodation for Iraq's Christian and Mandaean families expelled from their homes in Mosul.

Lord Malloch-Brown: Our missions in Baghdad and Erbil meet regularly with leading members of the Christian community. They have received no requests for temporary visas or emergency accommodation. Any applications would be assessed in line with the Immigration Rules.
	We have raised our concerns at the recent events in Mosul with the Iraqi Government. They have since taken action to ensure better security in the city. Recent reports from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees indicate that this has permitted many families to return to their home.

Israel and Palestine: Gaza

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they and the quartet have made of the legal status of Israel's restrictions on land access to Gaza and its not allowing supplies and access by sea; and what is their assessment of the two visits this year to Gaza by the SS Dignity, which delivered humanitarian aid.

Lord Malloch-Brown: Israel has an obligation to adhere to the international humanitarian law. It may take reasonable measures for the protection of its own security and that of the population of the Occupied Territories, but such measures must be proportionate, taking account of an assessment of the threat and of the impact on the civilian population.
	The only sustainable way to reduce suffering is for the relaxation on humanitarian imports into Gaza, and we will continue to call on the Government of Israel to take this action. The quartet has also reiterated its concerns, most recently during the UN General Assembly on 26 September.
	We strongly advise British nationals against all travel to Gaza. We believe that terrorist groups continue to maintain the intent and capability to kidnap foreigners and that the level of consular assistance we can provide would be very limited. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice has recently been updated advising that any attempt to enter Gaza by sea would be breaching the restrictions imposed by the Israeli navy, which has repeatedly stated that it will consider taking action to prevent any vessel from reaching Gaza.

Justice: Sharia Law

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 6 November (WA 80—82), whether English courts may refuse to give effect to a consent order embodying the terms of an agreement reached by the parties to a family dispute in a Sharia council, rabbinical court or other religious body, on grounds of public policy; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 6 November (WA 80—81), whether they will consider requiring applicants seeking to enforce a consent order under the Arbitration Act 1996 to inform the court where the order has been made under the auspices of a Sharia council or other religious body.

Lord Bach: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer to Lord Avebury on 6 November (Official Report, col. WA 81), which explained that it is the function of the court to question any order which appears unfair irrespective of the process through which the parties to a family dispute reached that agreement and, if appropriate, to refuse to make the order requested. The Answer made it clear that this applies to agreements reached by parties having gone through religious councils as well as any other process.
	The Government have no plans to amend the provisions of the Arbitration Act 1996. Arbitration is not a system of dispute resolution that may be used in family cases. The issue of enforcement of an arbitrated decision only arises in civil disputes.
	The Government are considering changes to applications for consent orders in ancillary relief proceedings so that the statements of information indicate the means by which agreements were reached. Any proposed changes will be included in the family procedure rules consultation process.

Mental Health: Forensic Discharges

Baroness Murphy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many discharges from medium secure forensic mental health services there have been each year in the last five years, categorised by (a) strategic health authority, and (b) primary care trust.

Lord Darzi of Denham: This information is not collected centrally.

NHS: Overseas Visitors

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, following the request of 13 September 2007 (3810ICO) under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by Mr Thomas Yates to the Department of Health for the submissions to its consultation Proposals to Exclude Overseas Visitors from Eligibility to Free NHS Primary Medical Services and the statement by the department in its letter to Mr Yates of 16 October 2008 that the information is not exempt from disclosure under the exemption it has claimed, why there has been a further delay in disclosure.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The department will publish the responses it received to the consultation document Proposals to Exclude Overseas Visitors from Eligibility to Free NHS Primary Medical Services.
	However, given that over four years have elapsed since the consultation exercise, the department will, first, be contacting all those who replied to ensure that they still have no objections to their comments being published. We will then publish the responses.

NHS: Racism

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action is being taken to understand the reasons for, and reduce, the numbers of black and ethnic-minority staff working in the National Health Service South East Coast Strategic Health Authority who are experiencing disciplinary actions and expressing grievances on the grounds of discrimination.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The South East Coast (SEC) Chief Executives' Forum is meeting on 27 November 2008 to consider the issue of the seemingly disproportionate numbers of black and minority-ethnic (BME) staff experiencing disciplinary actions and expressing grievances, and to initiate collective action in the SEC region.
	The NHS Employers organisation has also commissioned research into the extent of involvement of BME staff in disciplinary procedures in the wider National Health Service and to identify good management practice in this area.

NHS: Racism

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ask the Equality and Human Rights Commission to initiate action against the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust and West Kent Primary Care Trust for non-compliance with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 following the Race Equality Service Review published by the NHS South East Coast BME Network.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The department has asked the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority (SEC SHA), rather than the Equality and Human Rights Commission, to take action on this issue.
	SEC SHA has tasked all South East Coast primary care trusts and NHS trusts with reviewing their compliance with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act, and completing and returning a race equality assurance framework. The SHA will take direct action regarding any organisation that is not compliant.

NHS: Racism

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What changes have been made by NHS trusts since the Healthcare Commission's survey in 2007, which found fewer than one in 10 trusts had honoured its statutory duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2007.

Lord Darzi of Denham: There is no place for racism or other forms of discrimination in the National Health Service. It contradicts the basic value of equity that is the cornerstone of the health service. NHS trusts are individually responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. Since 2006 the Healthcare Commission has undertaken annual surveys of NHS compliance with race equality legislation. In January 2007 the NHS chief executive, David Nicholson, wrote to the chief executives of all NHS trusts to reiterate the need to ensure they meet their legal duties on race equality and direct them to Department of Health guidance on this issue. In March 2008, David Nicholson again wrote to chief executives on the need to ensure full compliance with all equality legislation.
	The NHS Management Board has since considered this issue further and agreed to establish in 2009 a new NHS equality and diversity council to oversee equality issues in the NHS.

NHS: Racism

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of whether the National Health Service is free of racism; and what steps they will take to ensure this.

Lord Darzi of Denham: There is no place for racism or other forms of discrimination in the National Health Service. It contradicts the basic value of equity that is the cornerstone of the health service. NHS trusts are individually responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. Since 2006 the Healthcare Commission has undertaken annual surveys of NHS compliance with race equality legislation. In January 2007 the NHS chief executive, David Nicholson, wrote to the chief executives of all NHS trusts to reiterate the need to ensure they meet their legal duties on race equality and direct them to Department of Health guidance on this issue. In March 2008, David Nicholson again wrote to chief executives on the need to ensure full compliance with all equality legislation.
	The NHS Management Board has since considered this issue further and agreed to establish in 2009 a new NHS equality and diversity council to oversee equality issues in the NHS.

Northern Ireland Office

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 28 October (WA 157), which Northern Ireland Office agencies acquired more staff after the 2004 spending review; how many frontline staff were recruited in each agency and in what jobs; what was the net reduction in central administrative posts within the core Northern Ireland Office; and what improvements in public services occurred as a consequence.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The change in staff numbers in the core Northern Ireland Office (NIO), its agencies and its legal offices is set out in the following table. The NIO publishes an annual departmental report, which sets out progress in service delivery. The reports for each year from 2005 to 2008 are available on the NIO's website.
	
		
			 Business area 2005 staff numbers 2008 staff numbers Change 
			 Core Department 759 677 -82 
			 Forensic Science NI 168 173 5 
			 Compensation Agency 120 77 -43 
			 Youth Justice Agency 66 70 4 
			 Public Prosecution Service 345 565 220 
			 Crown Solicitor's Office 75 82 7 
			 NI Prison Service 376 444 68 
			 Total 1,909 2,088 179

Northern Ireland Office: Bonuses

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 5 November (WA 69) concerning bonuses paid to officials of the Northern Ireland Office, what are the objectives against which bonuses are awarded.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Individuals' objectives against which bonuses are awarded are set out in their personal performance agreements. These reflect the departmental objectives set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007, a copy of which can be found at www.nio.gov.uk/comprehensive_spending_review_-_psas_and_dsas_for_nio.pdf.

Northern Ireland Office: Bonuses

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which officials in the Northern Ireland Office received a bonus in the past two years; what rank they are; how much they received; and for what.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Details of the reasons of bonus awards for officials in the Northern Ireland Office were set out in my Answer given on 5 November 2008 (Official Report, col. WA 69). Figures for the past two years are set out in the following tables.
	
		
			 Special Bonus Awards 
			 Grade Number of Staff Receiving Bonus 2007-08 Amount 2007-08 Number of Staff Receiving Bonus 2008-09 April-October Amount 2008-09 April-October 
			 SCS 0 £0 0 £0 
			 Grade A 69 £29,029 36 £11,655 
			 Grade B1 82 £24,940 48 £11,195 
			 Grade B2 75 £21,365 50 £10,970 
			 Grade C 187 £50,767 114 £19,545 
			 Assistant Scientific Officer 18 £5,610 19 £2,720 
			 Grade Dl 192 £40,635 126 £18,665 
			 Grade D2 77 £15,605 78 £10,290 
		
	
	
		
			 End-year Bonuses to non-SCS staff 
			 Grade Number of Staff Receiving Bonus 2007-08 Amount 2007 Number of Staff Receiving Bonus 2008 Amount 2008 
			 Grade A 29 £38,570 39 £46,020 
			 Grade B1 37 £43,660 55 £56,650 
			 Grade B2 38 £39,410 48 £42,240 
			 Grade C 68 £58,140 88 £64,240 
			 Assistant Scientific Officer 4 £3,100 7 £4,725 
			 Grade Dl 77 £56,210 99 £62,370 
			 Grade D2 31 £19,530 31 £16,430 
		
	
	
		
			 End-year Bonuses to SCS staff 
			 Grade Number of Staff Receiving Bonus Amount 
			 SCS 07 40 £298,650 
			 SCS 08 42 £317,200

Northern Ireland Office: Bonuses

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What regard is paid in calculating bonus figures for officials in the Northern Ireland Office to officials' attitude to identity, ethos, the aspirations of both communities and parity of esteem.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Details of the calculation of bonus awards for officials in the Northern Ireland Office were set out in the Answer given on 5 November 2008 (Official Report, col. WA 69).

Northern Ireland Office: Bonuses

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the payment of bonuses to some officials of the Northern Ireland Office was approved by the relevant trade unions.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The relevant trade unions have been consulted about the payment of bonuses to officials of the Northern Ireland Office, during pay negotiations.

Northern Ireland Office: Official Drivers

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 18 November (WA 188), whether official motor vehicles from the government pool are being used by Sinn Fein Ministers in the Northern Ireland Assembly without official drivers being assigned; how and by whom this arrangement was authorised; whether, and to whom, the unofficial drivers have to provide reasonable proof of competence; and to whom evidence is provided for insurance and other legal purposes.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The arrangements for providing ministerial cars for NI Ministers are a matter for the devolved Administration.

Northern Ireland Office: Pay Settlements

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the Northern Ireland Office's pay settlements for each of the past two years.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: For staff at Grade A and below, the Northern Ireland Office agreed a three-year pay deal with HMT from 1 August 2006 until July 2009. The settlements were 3.6 per cent in 2007-08 and 3.54 per cent in 2008-09. In addition a non-consolidated special bonus pot is calculated as 0.4 per cent of the pay bill and the non-consolidated performance bonus pot calculated at 0.54 per cent of the pay bill in both years.
	The settlements for the Senior Civil Service were 2.6 per cent in 2007-08 and 2.5 per cent in 2008-09. In addition in each year there was a non-consolidated bonus pot of 7.6 per cent in 2007-08 and of 8.6 per cent in 2008-09. This was in accordance with the Government's response to the Senior Salaries Review Body.

Northern Ireland Office: Staffing

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 29 September (WA 317) concerning staffing in the Northern Ireland Office, why the number employed has risen from 1,909 to 2,088 since 2005.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: There is nothing further I can add to the Answer given on 28 October 2008 (Official Report, col. WA 156).

Northern Ireland Office: Taxis

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 30 October (WA 181) concerning the expenditure of the Northern Ireland Office on taxis, why the cost of taxis has risen by 121 per cent in four years.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) keeps the cost of travel on official business under regular review. Following a review in 2007 the department adopted a policy which made greater use of taxis rather than private hire cars. While this change in policy has led to an increase in the cost of taxis, it has generated estimated whole year net savings of £150k.

Northern Ireland Office: Taxis

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 11 November (WA 123), why the cost of taxis for the Northern Ireland Office is not recorded in a way that would make it available to the House; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 11 November (WA 123), how data concerning the cost of taxis for the Northern Ireland Office are recorded.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Invoiced expenditure on pre-booked taxi journeys is recorded on the departmental finance system. Taxi journeys which are not pre-booked are reimbursed through staff expenses claims and are recorded as incidental expenditure on this system.
	Information on pre-booked taxi journeys is recorded but contains personal data which would only be redacted at disproportionate cost.
	Where taxi journeys are recorded as incidental expenses on staff expenses claims, the costs cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

Northern Ireland Office: Taxis

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 11 November (WA 123), who approves taxi journeys in the Northern Ireland Office; and against what criteria.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Taxi journeys are approved by the line manager of the officer booking the journey, and this approval is in line with the departmental travel policy which is issued to all staff.

Northern Ireland Office: Taxis

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 11 November (WA 123), who decided that the information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost; and what was the basis for the decision.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The decision was taken by the head of the department's finance division on the basis that to provide the detailed information requested would have required staff to undertake a manual review of travel claims to identify the taxi journeys that had been processed as reimbursed travel expenditure.

Northern Ireland Office: Transport

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 11 November (WA 123), what instructions have been issued in the past five years to staff of the Northern Ireland Office about the use of taxis; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 11 November (WA 123), what consideration the Northern Ireland Office has given to encouraging the sharing of private cars and the use of public transport.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: In September 2007, the Northern Ireland Office issued specific guidance to staff on the use of all forms of road transport, including taxis. This guidance directed that staff should travel by the most efficient means possible and that public transport followed by private vehicle ranked as the most economic. Only where possible public transport or a private car is not practical due to cost, timetable restrictions or security may staff use taxis. The September 2007 guidance also stated that where possible staff should share vehicles.

Northern Ireland Parades Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Tunnicliffe on 21 July (WA 219), whether the Northern Ireland Parades Commission is covered by Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; and, if so, how that affects the appointment of parade monitors.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Parades Commission for Northern Ireland is not designated as a public authority in accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Northern Ireland: Equality and Parity

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Tunnicliffe on 21 July (WA 216) concerning equality and parity of esteem in Northern Ireland, what progress they are making using Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 places a duty on the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland to "keep under review the effectiveness of the duties imposed by Section 75". A review of the effectiveness of Section 75 was published by the commission in May 2007. A copy of this report has been placed in the Library of the House.

Northern Ireland: Equality and Parity

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Tunnicliffe on 21 July (WA 217) concerning the promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland, whether the Irish broadcasting fund operates under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; if so, who monitors it; and what assessment they have made of its performance to date.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: I am advised that the Irish Language Broadcast Fund (ILBF) is implemented by Northern Ireland Screen, which is a public authority designated for the purposes of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
	Monitoring of the fund and assessments made of its performance are currently a matter for the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Northern Ireland: Equality and Parity

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Crawley on 21 July (WA 277) concerning political funding for Northern Ireland, whether the difference in treatment between Irish and British citizens living in the Republic of Ireland is compatible with the principle of parity of esteem specified in the Belfast agreement of 1998.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: There is nothing further I can add to the Answer given on 22 July 2008 (Official Report, col. WA 277).

Northern Ireland: Former Paramilitary Weapons

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Tunnicliffe on 21 July (WA 217) concerning the ownership of former paramilitary weapons in Northern Ireland, why ownership by the Police Service of Northern Ireland is not the same as ownership by Her Majesty's Government.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: To clarify, the Government are not in possession of any of the weapons handed over under the decommissioning amnesty scheme. However, the Police Service of Northern Ireland retains a number of weapons connected to ongoing investigations into both paramilitary and non-paramilitary crimes.

Olympic Games 2012: Spoil

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Olympic Delivery Authority charges £6 per tonne of spoil removed from the Stratford Olympic site by rail.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The ODA does not charge for the removal of spoil from the Olympic Park construction site. The charges for this are the result of a privately negotiated commercial arrangement between the rail transport providers and the contractor responsible for the removal of the material.

Olympic Games 2012: Spoil

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much spoil is planned to be removed from the Stratford Olympic site (a) by rail, (b) by road, and (c) by water.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The clearance of the Olympic Park involves the demolition of over 220 buildings and the cleaning of 1.3 million tonnes of contaminated soil with over 90 per cent of waste materials being reused or recycled.
	It has always been the ODA's intention to remediate and reuse the existing soil and demolished material on the Olympic Park construction site. However, where material is unsuitable for reuse it is removed from site by rail, road or water.
	The choice of transport is the responsibility of the contractor responsible for the removal of the material and is determined, in the first instance, by the location on site, the efficiency with which it can be removed, and, subject to arrangements between the contractor and the rail, road or water carrier concerned.

Passports: Belfast Office

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who issued an instruction to staff in the British Passport Office in Belfast that it was forbidden to wear a poppy in the week before Remembrance Day; and what were the circumstances of the matter.

Lord West of Spithead: No instruction was issued to staff employed by the Identity and Passport Service or by their contractors, Siemens IT Solutions and Services Ltd, in the Belfast Passport Office that it was forbidden to wear a poppy. Reports in the media about this were inaccurate.
	It appears that these reports were connected to an incident in the work area of the contractor, Siemens IT Solutions and Services Ltd (SIS), which handles the receipt of passport applications and fees and creates the computer record of these. I understand that a member of its staff complained about a colleague who they believed was wearing a poppy disrespectfully. After taking advice from the Equality Commission, SIS management discussed the matter with the individuals concerned and believed that the matter was resolved at the time. At no time was the staff member told to remove her poppy.
	The Identity and Passport Service policy adheres to the Equality Commission's advice on the matter of flags and emblems in the work place, and ensures that this is reflected in practice across the organisation. The commission's advice is that the wearing of poppies by individuals in the workplace, in a respectful manner and within the appropriate period, should not be something which would cause offence.
	As part of the Home Office, the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) is committed to promoting equality, fairness and respect among its customers, staff and partners.
	The Home Secretary and James Hall the chief executive of IPS have received assurances from the chief executive of Siemens PLC that their policy and practice mirrors that of IPS; that is, that all their employees can wear or not wear a poppy as they choose.

Passports: Belfast Office

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will review any security implications relating to first and second phase sub-contracting of administrative duties in the British Passport Office in Belfast.

Lord West of Spithead: Security implications relating to first and second phase sub-contracting are taken very seriously across the Identity and Passport Service, which includes the Belfast regional office. All first and second phase sub-contracted staff may only commence employment with IPS having achieved a security clearance through the Home Office Vetting Unit. Compliance with this policy is assured on a periodic basis.

Passports: Interviews

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the expenditure of the passport personal interview project to September 2008.

Lord West of Spithead: The total expenditure to the end of September 2008 to establish and to operate the network of passport interview offices is £117.5 million. This includes capital, project set-up costs and operational costs.

Passports: Interviews

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many full-time and part-time staff are employed to run the passport personal interview project.

Lord West of Spithead: As at the end of September, IPS employed 465.86 full-time equivalent staff within the interview office network.

Police: Bonuses

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many police forces in the United Kingdom operate a bonus payment scheme for officers at senior command level; and what authorisation is required in each instance.

Lord West of Spithead: All police authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have a chief officer bonus scheme as set out in the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) agreement of 12 February 2004. It is up to police authorities to decide how bonuses are authorised.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What additional security resources have been made available in areas of Northern Ireland that are experiencing high levels of dissident republican activity; and whether such activity has led to any reconsideration of plans to close police stations.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the noble Lord, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many independent members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board have experience of policing or police budgeting and accounting.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: No independent members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board have served as police officers and I am not aware of any who have prior experience of police budgeting and accounting.
	Three independent members hold professional qualifications in accounting. In addition, I am aware of members who have experience of financial management in both the private and public sectors.

Possession Orders

Lord Bates: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many judgments and possession orders have been granted by each county court in England in 2008; and what the figures were for 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Lord Bach: The table below shows the numbers of judgments and possession orders made for each county court and HM Courts Service region in England in the years 2005, 2006 and 2007, and during the period from January to June 2008.
	The statistics on judgments include those made via the county courts, the district registries of the High Court, the County Court Bulk Centre and Money Claim Online. They include those made by judges and also those entered as an administrative function, generally not involving a judge. Judgments of the latter type either follow the defendant's failure to respond within the allotted time period or the claimant's acceptance of the defendant's offer to pay all or part of the amount owed.
	The statistics on possession orders count both mortgage and landlord possession orders (including landlord orders made under the accelerated possession procedure). Suspended orders are also included in these figures.
	The figures representing possession orders made do notindicate how many homes have been repossessed through the courts, since no possession orders result in an actual possession.
	
		
			 Number of judgments1 and possession orders2 3 made by HMCS region and county court in England 
			   Possession Orders made   Judgments 
			 Region Court Name 2005 2006 2007 Jan-Jun 08 2005 2006 2007 Jan-Jun 08 
			 London Barnet 1,484 1,530 1,599 926 4,687 4,971 3,875 2,124 
			  Bow 3,921 3,887 4,170 1,959 2,197 2,596 2,641 1,873 
			  Brentford 1,699 1,913 1,851 1,105 2,780 2,979 3,145 1,976 
			  Bromley 2,408 2,397 2,350 1,182 6,856 6,739 7,055 3,055 
			  Central London 2,033 1,772 1,686 947 11,476 11,025 10,718 6,251 
			  Clerkenwell and Shoreditch 3,476 3,241 3,116 1,590 5,859 5,441 5,181 3,945 
			  Croydon 3,314 3,540 3,450 1,802 3,793 4,664 6,223 3,242 
			  Edmonton 3,241 3,464 3,714 2,065 2,901 2,791 3,403 2,243 
			  Ilford 1,270 1,328 - - 1,612 1,878 2,181 1,314 
			  Kingston-upon-Thames 817 883 716 425 2,406 2,585 2,829 1,739 
			  Lambeth 3,531 3,902 3,107 1,694 3,320 3,081 2,959 1,658 
			  Mayors & City 12 21 27 14 3,610 4,051 4,114 3,458 
			  Romford 1,687 1,735 1,858 1,129 4,990 3,676 3,477 1,991 
			  Uxbridge 1,369 1,498 1,379 713 1,849 2,000 2,296 1,608 
			  Wandsworth 2,016 1,814 1,682 908 3,367 3,575 6,290 2,580 
			  West London 943 1,073 821 486 2,929 2,941 2,274 1,434 
			  Willesden 2,893 3,553 3,440 1,856 3,281 3,127 3,078 2,114 
			  Woolwich 2,015 1,937 2,022 965 1,301 1,506 1,745 990 
			  London Group 38,129 39,488 36,988 19,766 69,214 69,626 73,484 43,595 
			  Other London - - 1,316 1,053 - - - - 
			  London Total 38,129 39,488 38,304 20,819 69,214 69,626 73,484 43,595 
			 Midlands Buxton 129 154 - - 635 801 839 452 
			  Chesterfield 701 882 - - 1,214 1,304 1,471 881 
			  Derby 1,541 1,798 1,606 854 3,407 4,058 3,842 2,441 
			  Derbyshire 2,371 2,834 1,606 854 5,256 6,163 6,152 3,774 
			  Leicester 2,265 2,266 , 2,282 1,220 3,799 3,676 4,061 2,772 
			  Melton Mowbray 137 148 - - 1,067 1,117 1,268 866 
			  Leicestershire 2,402 2,414 2,282 1,220 4,866 4,793 5,329 3,638 
			  Boston 511 493 - - 1,095 913 902 574 
			  Grantham 254 270 - - 338 349 298 215 
			  Lincoln 856 863 947 607 3,367 2,849 1,771 1,188 
			  Skegness 223 223 282 123 174 169 80 109 
			  Lincolnshire 1,844 1,849 1,229 730 4,974 4,280 3,051 2,086 
			  Kettering 691 845 - - 841 813 949 610 
			  Northampton 1,318 1,294 1,299 700 3,767 3,739 3,591 1,768 
			  Wellingborough 525 595 - - 431 468 541 347 
			  Northamptonshire 2,534 2,734 1,299 700 5,039 5,020 5,081 2,725 
			  Mansfield 1,052 1,205 1,180 670 1,046 1,024 1,153 794 
			  Newark 173 176 - - 639 714 629 326 
			  Nottingham 3,069 3,062 3,090 1,970 9,521 7,674 7,253 3,464 
			  Worksop 427 426 - - 565 589 684 447 
			  Nottinghamshire 4,721 4,869 4,270 2,640 11,771 10,001 9,719 5,031 
			  Burton-on-Trent 570 647 - - 951 858 1,081 637 
			  Stafford 427 408 454 287 1,315 1,064 1,110 624 
			  Stoke-on-Trent 1,657 2,019 2,125 1,320 2,758 2,458 2,592 1,627 
			  Tamworth 440 450   617 610 551 336 
			  Staffordshire 3,094 3,524 2,579 1,607 5,641 4,990 5,334 3,224 
			  Nuneaton 696 920 853 522 969 995 1,151 629 
			  Rugby 335 287 - - 992 2,503 1,123 286 
			  Stratford 124 116 - - 547 648 502 469 
			  Warwick 334 308 286 161 906 643 570 370 
			  Warwickshire 1,489 1,631 1,139 683 3,414 4,789 3,346 1,754 
			  Evesham 167 176 - - 353 1,076 820 449 
			  Hereford 314 361 - - 780 736 737 400 
			  Kidderminster 381 342 - - 799 721 753 410 
			  Ludlow 39 47 - - 154 149 94 79 
			  Oswestry 134 129 - - 209 242 218 190 
			  Redditch 550 513 - - 2,055 2,503 1,276 4,002 
			  Shrewsbury 319 324 - - 587 539 597 371 
			  Telford 732 739 699 396 4,722 6,690 7,275 795 
			  Worcester 479 474 643 402 1,933 1,919 1,705 1,002 
			  West Mercia 3,115 3,105 1,342 798 11,592 14,575 13,475 7,698 
			  Birmingham 5,318 6,697 7,235 4,203 9,828 10,269 10,342 7,493 
			  Coventry 1,188 1,245 1,391 771 2,876 3,350 3,778 1,906 
			  Dudley 1,168 1,150 1,106 682 3,141 3,122 2,727 1,572 
			  Stourbridge 587 597 - - 550 532 558 589 
			  Walsall 1,813 2,021 2,143 1,185 7,146 7,215 6,039 3,482 
			  Wolverhampton 1,442 1,556 1,435 972 2,201 2,407 1,749 1,085 
			  West Midlands 11,516 13,266 13,310 7,813 25,742 26,895 25,193 16,127 
			  Other Midlands - - 8,278 4,729 - - - - 
			  Midlands Total 33,086 36,226 37,334 21,774 78,295 81,506 76,680 46,057 
			 North East Hartlepool 548 630 - - 605 692 844 500 
			  Teesside 1,734 1,852 1,742 1,075 2,331 2,554 2,833 1,741 
			  Cleveland 2,282 2,482 1,742 1,075 2,936 3,246 3,677 2,241 
			  Bishop Auckland 432 475 - - 432 484 477 316 
			  Consett 275 383 - - 230 323 340 227 
			  Darlington 724 815 - - 2,000 2,153 2,982 1,475 
			  Durham 770 835 - - 1,041 945 1,202 929 
			  Durham 2,201 2,508 - - 3,703 3,905 5,001 2,947 
			  Grimsby 740 837 1,054 498 998 1,037 1,303 867 
			  Kingston-upon-Hull 1,625 1,827 1,852 927 4,519 5,761 6,475 3,537 
			  Scunthorpe 587 644 - - 449 525 653 493 
			  Humberside 2,952 3,308 2,906 1,425 5,966 7,323 8,431 4,897 
			  Harrogate 298 317 - - 3,199 3,063 3,981 1,931 
			  Scarborough 477 508 589 298 620 539 721 552 
			  Skipton 126 131 147 82 643 704 586 360 
			  York 793 904 848 391 2,671 2,345 2,227 1,356 
			  North Yorkshire 1,694 1,860 1,584 771 7,133 6,651 7,515 4,199 
			  Gateshead 916 930 - - 1,490 3,129 4,052 3,492 
			  Morpeth 602 543 - - 523 592 674 527 
			  Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1,478 2,289 2,058 1,026 9,203 7,607 9,316 4,544 
			  North Shields 693 846 - - 2,121 2,421 2,685 2,185 
			  South Shields 500 709 764 425 373 432 775 671 
			  Sunderland 688 941 969 424 1,645 1,902 2,070 1,047 
			  Northumbria 4,877 6,258 3,791 1,875 15,355 16,083 19,572 12,466 
			  Barnsley 766 887 942 505 1,232 1,539 1,587 973 
			  Doncaster 1,304 1,538 1,746 998 1,757 1,963 2,470 1,473 
			  Rotherham 760 1,025 - - 1,932 2,017 2,480 1,352 
			  Sheffield 2,170 2,106 2,576 1,587 8,106 9,632 7,707 4,425 
			  South Yorkshire 5,000 5,556 5,264 3,090 13,027 15,151 14,244 8,223 
			  Bradford 1,522 1,616 1,522 897 4,377 5,397 6,975 9,569 
			  Dewsbury 941 875 - - 1,387 1,427 1,884 1,531 
			  Halifax 651 695 - - 1,154 1,255 1,257 627 
			  Huddersfield 847 863 850 515 1,772 2,152 2,295 1,307 
			  Keighley 280 308 - - 888 1,069 1,353 877 
			  Leeds 1,863 2,010 2,029 1,246 11,750 12,654 12,443 5,931 
			  Pontefract 557 636 - - 1,458 686 738 532 
			  Wakefield 374 536 - - 1,721 1,589 1,921 1,223 
			  West Yorkshire 7,035 7,539 4,401 2,658 24,507 26,229 28,866 21,597 
			  Other North East - - 10,966 5,040 - - - - 
			  North East Total 26,041 29,511 30,654 15,934 72,627 78,588 87,306 56,570 
			 North West Chester 626 837 638 386 3,178 2,567 2,962 1,280 
			  Crewe 499 456 - - 1,334 782 687 565 
			  Macclesfield 340 385 444 265 2,016 1,461 1,867 954 
			  Northwich 355 398 - - 422 430 521 359 
			  Runcorn 374 357 389 201 427 383 363 235 
			  Warrington 588 900 766 437 1,517 1,448 1,796 1,051 
			  Cheshire 2,782 3,333 2,237 1,289 8,894 7,071 8,196 4,444 
			  Barrow-in-Furness 273 275 - - 1,536 1,012 771 412 
			  Carlisle 340 308 378 263 843 988 1,003 507 
			  Kendal 81 82 - - 818 775 1,085 344 
			  Penrith 96 63 - - 163 149 190 219 
			  Whitehaven 316 358 - - 370 366 375 255 
			  Cumbria 1,106 1,086 378 263 3,730 3,290 3,424 1,737 
			  Altrincham 365 417 - - 1,854 1,762 1,842 1,339 
			  Bolton 977 993 1,154 623 2,409 2,138 1,655 1,217 
			  Bury 723 799 844 511 2,717 2,252 2,470 1,409 
			  Leigh 417 458 - - 1,016 1,468 1,584 842 
			  Manchester 2,588 2,809 2,496 1,645 9,975 12,259 14,660 9,201 
			  Oldham 1,978 2,176 2,271 1,385 2,062 1,929 2,286 2,008 
			  Salford 1,146 1,294 1,652 1,177 4,417 4,073 4,364 2,721 
			  Stockport 909 1,115 1,139 557 4,595 5,421 5,890 3,581 
			  Tameside 1,030 1,292 - - 886 1,189 928 809 
			  Wigan 1,008 1,196 - - 1,035 1,228 1,522 1,079 
			  Greater Manchester 11,141 12,549 9,556 5,898 30,966 33,719 37,201 24,206 
			  Accrington 246 223 - - 379 403 458 272 
			  Blackburn 632 757 732 501 985 1,022 1,169 791 
			  Blackpool 974 1,155 1,117 676 1,696 2,034 1,743 1,200 
			  Burnley 306 326 381 234 790 851 780 560 
			  Chorley 342 327 - - 385 431 472 319 
			  Lancaster 376 382 400 285 653 707 1,041 486 
			  Nelson 196 183 - - 356 410 425 197 
			  Preston 853 962 1,102 572 1,975 2,014 1,986 1,346 
			  Rawtenstall 232 272 - - 1,183 1,657 1,802 1,297 
			  Lancashire 4,157 4,587 3,732 2,268 8,402 9,529 9,876 6,468 
			  Birkenhead 1,094 1,359 1,249 661 10,644 17,679 19,696 12,548 
			  Liverpool 3,266 3,552 4,312 2,443 15,730 15,789 17,382 9,424 
			  Southport 299 384 - - 929 1,094 1,241 696 
			  St. Helens 1,203 1,170 - - 1,678 1,993 2,180 1,093 
			  Merseyside 5,862 6,465 5,561 3,104 28,981 36,555 40,499 23,761 
			  Other North West - - 8,140 4,521 - - - - 
			  North West Total 25,048 28,020 29,604 17,343 80,973 90,164 99,196 60,616 
			 South East Bedford 734 703 - - 1,090 1,321 1,281 780 
			  Luton 1,400 1,366 1,343 865 3,306 2,826 2,896 1,743 
			  Bedfordshire 2,134 2,069 1,343 865 4,396 4,147 4,177 2,523 
			  Cambridge 863 934 1,055 613 2,102 2,436 2,551 1,377 
			  Huntingdon 390 387 - - 805 819 758 449 
			  Peterborough 1,154 1,419 1,294 910 2,979 2,936 2,484 1,679 
			  Cambridgeshire 2,407 2,740 2,349 1,523 5,886 6,191 5,793 3,505 
			  Basildon 1,720 1,901 1,824 949 2,015 2,451 2,599 1,520 
			  Chelmsford 621 694 707 400 2,227 2,055 1,670 1,207 
			  Colchester 1,219 1,351 1,426 908 2,150 1,996 1,853 1,320 
			  Harlow 641 652 - - 1,546 1,097 907 773 
			  Southend-on-Sea 1,093 1,147 1,082 616 2,722 2,628 2,569 1,441 
			  Essex 5,294 5,745 5,039 2,873 10,660 10,227 9,598 6,261 
			  Hertford 381 389 - - 1,644 1,422 1,504 813 
			  Hitchin 663 637 - - 956 996 1,676 1,984 
			  St. Albans 392 435 - - 1,927 2,352 2,884 1,262 
			  Watford 1,325 1,328 1,169 744 3,741 3,322 4,693 2,426 
			  Hertfordshire 2,761 2,789 1,169 744 8,268 8,092 10,757 6,485 
			  Ashford 711 704 - - 759 769 851 650 
			  Canterbury 646 671 729 408 1,984 1,675 1,493 869 
			  Dartford 1,041 1,211 1,636 967 3,037 2,441 2,995 2,326 
			  Gravesend 397 371 - - 463 390 0 0 
			  Maidstone 602 618 626 352 2,148 3,178 4,594 2,988 
			  Medway 1,585 1,382 1,766 940 1,845 1,555 1,781 1,278 
			  Thanet 536 601 - - 612 784 1,004 541 
			  Tunbridge Wells 479 523 - - 1,149 1,052 1,054 739 
			  Kent 5,997 6,081 4,757 2,667 11,997 11,844 13,772 9,391 
			  King's Lynn 584 696 - - 2,388 2,177 2,170 980 
			  Norwich 1,319 1,264 1,327 885 4,078 3,758 3,629 2,443 
			  Norfolk 1,903 1,960 1,327 885 6,466 5,935 5,799 3,423 
			  Bury St. Edmunds 477 523 - - 923 985 1,114 667 
			  Ipswich 777 915 784 454 2,784 2,885 3,029 2,100 
			  Lowestoft 634 651 - - 774 647 621 523 
			  Suffolk 1,888 2,089 784 454 4,481 4,517 4,764 3,290 
			  Epsom 515 582 - - 1,509 857 1,032 760 
			  Guildford 401 571 505 265 1,377 1,576 2,869 8,642 
			  Reigate 319 325 - - 4,967 3,960 2,527 791 
			  Staines 609 744 - - 1,903 2,227 2,476 1,491 
			  Surrey 1,844 2,222 505 265 9,756 8,620 8,904 11,684 
			  Brighton 850 901 949 497 4,553 4,255 4,442 2,311 
			  Chichester 559 611 572 385 1,313 1,495 1,868 982 
			  Eastbourne 541 528 - - 830 864 784 462 
			  Hastings 669 716 - - 980 1,154 1,074 482 
			  Haywards Heath 298 281 243 143 1,283 1,511 1,172 558 
			  Horsham 627 541 - - 1,930 1,716 1,816 1,074 
			  Lewes 168 190 165 100 406 513 455 386 
			  Worthing 423 427 - - 1,708 2,649 1,490 821 
			  Sussex 4,135 4,195 1,929 1,125 13,003 14,157 13,101 7,076 
			  Aylesbury 398 389 411 229 676 775 785 842 
			  Banbury 240 329 282 168 3,664 4,670 5,292 2,932 
			  High Wycombe 535 404 - - 1,448 1,405 1,037 516 
			  Milton Keynes 1,217 1,151 1,272 707 4,645 4,226 4,558 2,289 
			  Newbury 284 289 - - 970 910 842 541 
			  Oxford 1,041 1,029 1,024 610 2,726 3,142 2,817 1,396 
			  Reading 1,236 1,319 1,248 749 4,751 4,685 4,878 2,877 
			  Slough 1,063 986 1,138 637 2,239 2,275 1,715 1,163 
			  Thames Valley 6,014 5,896 5,375 3,100 21,119 22,088 21,924 12,556 
			  Other South East - - 12,232 6,774 - - - - 
			  South East Total 34,377 35,786 36,809 21,275 96,032 95,818 98,589 66,194 
			 South West Bath 271 280 - - 536 580 798 557 
			  Bristol 2,137 2,128 2,029 1,267 8,987 8,220 8,500 4,309 
			  Taunton 459 469 517 278 968 1,116 1,233 918 
			  Weston-super-Mare 399 375 - - 613 709 721 483 
			  Yeovil 554 479 - - 2,898 2,207 1,580 909 
			  Avon and Somerset 3,820 3,731 2,546 1,545 14,002 12,832 12,832 7,176 
			  Barnstaple 289 279 306 165 1,125 989 919 564 
			  Bodmin 351 451 - - 1,024 1,039 922 570 
			  Exeter 591 752 704 477 1,953 2,451 2,485 1,515 
			  Penzance 303 303 - - 476 599 519 405 
			  Plymouth 1,134 1,196 1,068 693 2,117 2,356 2,615 1,562 
			  Torquay 577 558 - - 1,287 1,236 1,306 840 
			  Truro 228 280 265 127 1,818 1,635 1,287 702 
			  Devon and Cornwall 3,473 3,819 2,343 1,462 9,800 10,305 10,053 6,158 
			  Bournemouth 756 814 816 455 1,863 1,904 1,912 1,606 
			  Poole 581 618 - - 4,061 4,378 3,987 2,245 
			  Weymouth 355 374 376 221 658 613 750 445 
			  Dorset 1,692 1,806 1,192 676 6,582 6,895 6,649 4,296 
			  Cheltenham 354 367 388 202 2,212 1,516 1,122 623 
			  Gloucester 773 802 782 417 1,558 1,671 2,058 1,304 
			  Gloucestershire 1,127 1,169 1,170 619 3,770 3,187 3,180 1,927 
			  Aldershot 772 632 771 493 2,169 1,730 1,666 978 
			  Basingstoke 719 680 578 323 5,115 5,167 5,414 3,035 
			  Newport (IoW) 316 301 343 163 891 862 889 395 
			  Portsmouth 1,621 1,670 1,826 1,036 4,819 5,018 4,157 1,519 
			  Southampton 1,349 1,448 1,430 901 4,729 4,218 4,767 3,115 
			  Winchester 204 164 158 78 451 498 1,022 568 
			  Hampshire & Isle of Wight 4,981 4,895 5,106 2,994 18,174 17,493 17,915 9,610 
			  Salisbury 292 252 246 147 530 670 674 455 
			  Swindon 956 938 938 474 2,377 2,475 3,303 2,127 
			  Trowbridge 678 515 - - 1,292 1,296 1,076 613 
			  Wiltshire 1,926 1,705 1,184 621 4,199 4,441 5,053 3,195 
			  Other South West - - 3,697 1,903 - - - - 
			  South West Total 17,019 17,125 17,238 9,820 56,527 55,153 55,682 32,362 
			  Bulk centre - - - - 687,627 765,924 666,973 347,045 
			  England Total 173,700 186,156 189,943 106,965 1,141,295 1,236,779 1,157,910 652,439 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. These include all judgments made in the county courts and district registries and also in the County Court Bulk Centre and Money Claim Online.
	2. These include all mortgage and landlord possession orders made in the county courts including suspended orders and orders made using the accelerated possession procedure.
	3. The rollout of the Possession Claim On-Line (PCOL) system in late 2006 has affected the availability of data on possession orders for courts that do not have on site access to PCOL. Estimates of the shortfall have been made at HM Courts Service regional level for 2007 and 2008: these are combined in the "other" row at the end of each regional list.
	Source: Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 4 November (WA 41) concerning Irish prisoners in prison in Northern Ireland, why the Belfast agreement of 1998 does not allow prisoners in Northern Ireland to be identified as Irish.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Belfast agreement recognises explicitly the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose. On committal to prisons in Northern Ireland, prisoners are asked to declare their nationality. They may declare themselves as British, British (Northern Ireland), Northern Irish, Irish or other.
	Although it is not possible to state definitively how many prisoners have "Irish nationality", as of 14 November, 148 prisoners had self-declared themselves to be of Irish nationality. This figure includes eight females and 24 male young offenders—a total of approximately 9 per cent of the prison population.

Public Houses

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of changes in the number of community public houses; and what measures they intend to take.

Lord Carter of Barnes: We have made no assessment of changes in the number of community pubs. The DCMS Statistical Bulletin on Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment does not identify the number of community pubs in England and Wales; but rather the number of premises authorising the sale or supply of alcohol by means of a premises licence or a club premises certificate. These figures apply not only to public houses, but also to other licensed premises such as hotels, off licences and convenience stores.
	We are aware of the concerns outlined in the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group inquiry into Community Pubs about community pub closures and will be responding in due course.

Questions for Written Answer: Unanswered Questions

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 4 November (WA 42) which said that 55 per cent of Questions for Written Answer asked of the Northern Ireland Office were answered within 14 days, whether the speed of answering Questions is satisfactory; and, if not, what course of action do they propose.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Northern Ireland Office continues in its efforts to answer all questions as quickly, fully and accurately as possible.
	There has been an improvement of 4 percentage points on performance since the Answer given on 29 September (Official Report, col. WA 317).

Racism

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of any institutional racism in United Kingdom media organisations that may prevent black and minority ethnic individuals from reaching senior positions; and whether the Equality and Human Rights Commission has taken action against any United Kingdom media organisations on such matters or intends to do so.

Lord Carter of Barnes: Equality of opportunity in employment makes business sense and is an economic necessity. The Government consider it to be an important issue and that is why on 26 September the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport invited the Cultural Diversity Network to set out proposals on how to move forward more effectively in the broadcasting industry.
	The Government have not made any assessments. The public service broadcasters are subject to obligations under the Communications Act and BBC Charter and Agreement to promote equality of opportunity in employment between men and women, for disabled people and between persons of different racial groups. This is a matter taken very seriously by the broadcasters, which monitor such matters closely. The obligations are enforceable by Ofcom or the BBC Trust as appropriate.
	Separately, I understand that the Equality and Human Rights Commission has indicated that it intends to conduct assessments of the extent to which the BBC and Channel 4 have applied, among other things, equality duties to the development and implementation of their public functions. The terms of reference concerning the scope and nature of the assessments have yet to be determined.
	The UK Film Council and the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT) published a study in 2004 on the problems faced by black and minority ethnic professionals in the film and television sectors about difficulties in developing their careers. In 2007 the UK Film Council published Barriers to Diversity in Film, which considered institutional barriers to recruitment in the film sector. The UK Film Council regularly monitors lottery applications and, with Skillset, monitors workforces in terms of equality issues.
	More generally, Creative Britain, which was published in February 2008, included a commitment that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will work with its non-departmental public bodies, and through them with its sectors, to agree actions to promote a more diverse workforce.

RAF: Typhoon Aircraft

Lord Moonie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When Typhoon aircraft will be deployed to Iceland on NATO quick reaction alert duty; how many will be deployed; and for how long.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: The peacetime airborne surveillance and interception capability in Iceland is a NATO task. The deployment of four Typhoons was scheduled to take place in December. Following discussions within NATO, the deployment will not now take place.

Railways: Closure

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to institute closure proceedings for the railway line which from 14 December will no longer be used for passenger services in the Willesden, Acton and Clapham areas, as a result of the decision to withdraw those services previously provided by the Arriva Cross Country franchise.

Lord Adonis: The Government do not intend to institute closure proceedings for any of the railway routes in the Willesden, Acton or Clapham areas.

Railways: Replacement Services

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have considered replacement services for the Factory Junction to Latchmere No. 1 Junction, West London Junctions (Willesden No. 1) to Acton Wells Junction, and Acton Wells Junction to (Poplar Junction) Acton East Junction, such as a new Greenford to Clapham Junction service stopping at all stations.

Lord Adonis: There are currently no plans for new services over the routes set out above.

Railways: Replacement Services

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, given the effect on road congestion of the opening of the Westfield development, they will consider providing a rail service between the Great Western Main Line and the West London Line using the tracks formerly used by Arriva, to provide an alternative way of getting to Westfield and the exhibition centres at Olympia and Earl's Court.

Lord Adonis: There are currently no plans for new services between the Great Western Main Line and the West London line.

Railways: Rolling Stock

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 12 November (WA 140) on the capacity of trains serving Bristol and the west of England, how long the process will take until an order for new rolling stock is placed.

Lord Adonis: Discussions with First Great Western on the subject of additional rolling stock capacity for Bristol and the west of England are in progress. Our current view is that this process should conclude during 2009, although this is clearly subject to the progress of the commercial negotiations between the parties.

Roads: Satellite Navigation Systems

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 10 November (WA 110), what plans they have to regulate the performance of satellite navigation devices.

Lord Adonis: Legislation on this subject, introduced in 1989 and 1990, made provision for the licensing of certain route guidance systems, but did not specifically regulate performance. The technology has changed significantly since the introduction of the legislation and the Government have been reviewing this and a range of other route guidance issues. We have also taken a leading role in the development of the European statement of principles which provides guidance on minimising driver distraction from in-vehicle information systems. In addition, we have commissioned research to examine the use and impact of satellite navigation systems on travel choices and journey planning. No firm decisions on any further action have yet been taken.

Russia

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals they will make at the European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council on 10 November about current and future relations with Russia.

Lord Malloch-Brown: On 10 November, the General Affairs and External Relations Council discussed preparations for the EU-Russia summit, in particular proposals, including from the UK, to ensure that the resumption of negotiations on the successor to the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement was put in the proper context. Following the council, the presidency issued a declaration which made clear that negotiations would be taken forward in the light of an ongoing examination of relations between the EU and Russia. The declaration underlined that dialogue was the best means of defending the EU's interests, and that negotiations on the basis of the agreed EU mandate in no way legitimised the status quo in Georgia, nor Russian action contrary to the Union's values and principles.
	In a joint statement issued prior to the council, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt expressed deep concern about Russia's actions and failure to withdraw to pre-7 August conflict positions and reiterated support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The UK/Swedish statement made clear that isolation was in no-one's interest but that the resumption of negotiations with Russia was not a return to business as usual, nor was the EU turning the page on the conflict in Georgia. The EU would stick to the tough mandate that has been agreed for the negotiations. The joint statement expressed confidence that this hard-headed approach would help maintain the unity of the Union.

Social Care: Adults

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they have given to the report Rights Not Write Off from Age Concern, Mencap and Scope; and if there is any action they will be taking in response to its findings.

Lord Darzi of Denham: Putting People First (PPF) signals sector-wide agreement on the direction of travel and the commitment to significant change by April 2011. Central to transformation is giving individuals a personal budget, a clear understanding of how much is to be spent on their care or support, to allow them to exercise choice, or control the spending by taking cash in lieu of services (a direct payment).
	Individual budgets build on what works with direct payments and, like direct payments, give people more choice and control. Individual budgets can bring a number of income streams together to give the individual a more joined-up package of support.
	Putting People First (PPF) also committed to a universal information, advice and advocacy service for people needing services and their carers irrespective of their eligibility for public funding. Copies have already been placed in the Library.
	The Prime Minister announced a national debate on the future of care and support on 12 May 2008 and this period of engagement with both the public and stakeholders will end on 28 November. The Government will consider all contributions relevant to this debate, including Rights Not Write Off, and will publish a Green Paper on this issue in early 2009.

Somaliland: Terrorism

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received any request for help from the authorities in Somaliland in the investigation of recent terrorist offences in Somaliland; and if not, whether they will offer such help.

Lord Malloch-Brown: The Government have not received a formal request from the Somaliland authorities for help in the investigation of offences, but have received a request for co-operation and assistance in strengthening their capacity to counter any future terrorist threats or activity.
	Following the attacks in Somaliland and Puntland on 29 October, we are reassessing the situation in Somaliland. We are considering carefully how we can continue to implement our existing programmes of assistance and any potential opportunities to enhance our support.

Sport: Swimming

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they and Sport England place the same weight in their consultations on swimming-related matters on the learning and teaching of swimming as on the competitive element.

Lord Carter of Barnes: Sport England is working with 46 national governing bodies of sport, including the Amateur Swimming Association, to develop Whole Sport Plans covering their entire sport, from the first coaching class through to elite success. Sport England has committed to invest 75 per cent of its budget on Growing and Sustaining participation, which will include catering for beginners. The remaining 25 per cent is dedicated to giving all the chance to excel.

St Andrews Agreement

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 4 November (WA 48) concerning the St Andrews agreement, what progress has been made on the implementation of the St Andrews agreement.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement laid before the House on 19 November (Official Report, col. WS 90).

Sudan: Peace Agreement

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress they have made with the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement in southern Sudan, in particular with the return of displaced southerners, disarmament and resolving the Abyei border dispute.

Lord Malloch-Brown: 1.7 million internally displaced persons and almost 300,000 refugees returned to south Sudan between the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement in January 2005 and June 2008. Returns are supported by the International Organisation for Migration and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), funded from the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF), to which the UK provides approximately 50 per cent of funding. We also give £19 million of direct funding per year to the UNHCR.
	The National Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) strategy will provide support for 182,900 ex-combatants, equally split between north and south, over the next four years. The UK has funded capacity building, consultancy and reintegration expertise in support of DDR efforts in south Sudan. We are in consultation with the UN, the DDR commissions and other donors over future funding to the national DDR programme.
	Following the fighting in Abyei in May 2008, the parties agreed a road map for Abyei, including that the border dispute should be referred to the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The UK advised both parties on the arbitration process which will be completed next year.

Supreme Court

Lord Selsdon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current estimated capital cost, including fitting out and provision of library, visitor and dining facilities, and the revenue costs, including security, of the Supreme Court; and when it is expected to open.

Lord Bach: As announced by my noble and learned friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 14 June 2007, the estimated set-up costs for the UK Supreme Court are £36.7 million for capital construction, which will be met over a 30-year period through rental payments of £2.1 million per annum, increasing at a rate of 2.5 per cent per annum, plus £20.2 million of other set-up costs (including provision of library, visitor and dining facilities). The only change to this estimate is an additional £2 million for repair work (as announced on 3 July 2008) and new security measures (where we will update the House with costs once we have the final figure). The UK Supreme Court will open at the beginning of the legal year in October 2009.

Supreme Court: Justices

Lord Selsdon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the effect on the House of Lords of exclusion of those persons appointed under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 who become Justices of the Supreme Court.

Lord Bach: The Government believe that the exclusion of those appointed under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 who become Justices of the Supreme Court will have minimal impact on the House, as the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary play little active part in the work of the House while they sit full-time in the Appellate Committee. Retired members of the Supreme Court who are Members of the House will be able to resume sitting and voting in the House.

Taxation: VAT

Lord Cope of Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answers by Lord Davies of Oldham on 10 November (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 431—33), what assumptions were made in calculating the cost of introducing a lower rate of value added tax on repairs to buildings; and
	Further to the answers by Lord Davies of Oldham on 10 November (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 431—33), whether, in calculating the cost to the Exchequer of introducing a lower rate of value added tax on repairs to buildings, they considered the effects on the revenues of the Isle of Man Government when a similar change was made there; and
	Further to the answers by Lord Davies of Oldham on 10 November (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 431—33), whether, in calculating the cost to the Exchequer of introducing a lower rate of value added tax on repairs to buildings, they took account of the effects on the revenues of France, Italy and Portugal when those countries made a similar change; and
	Further to the answers by Lord Davies of Oldham on 10 November (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 431—33), whether, in the light of the increase in employment in France, Italy and Portugal following the introduction of a lower rate of value added tax on repairs to buildings, they have estimated the increase in employment in the construction industry were such a change to be introduced in the United Kingdom.

Lord Myners: Under current EU agreements, there is no scope for applying a reduced rate of VAT to repairs on buildings and the Government have therefore made no specific estimate of the potential costs or employment impacts of this. However, the Government keep all taxes under review and as part of this process broader estimates have been made of the wider application of reduced rates in the housing sector. Such estimates take into account a number of factors including: total relevant expenditure sourced from BERR's construction statistics annual; the estimated amount of spending already reduced rated; the price elasticity of demand; the expected rate of pass-on of the VAT rate cut; and the current size of the informal economy and its potential for reduction. The Government have noted the experiences of other member states in their experimental application of limited reduced rates to certain labour-intensive services, which the European Commission first evaluated in 2003 in Commission Staff Working Paper COM(2003)309.

Transport: Heavy Goods Vehicles

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 29 October (WA 178), whether they are planning to conduct a campaign to persuade the owners of the 100,000 heavy goods vehicles registered prior to 1 January 2000, which will not be required to comply with the new rules about the fitting of rear-view mirrors, to fit such equipment voluntarily.

Lord Adonis: We have no plans to conduct a campaign as there is a risk that existing vehicle cab and door construction may not be designed to cope with the weight and wind loading created by fitting additional mirrors. This could lead to premature failure and liability claims.
	However, we understand that some of the existing mirrors on the passenger side of these earlier large goods vehicles may already comply with the field of view requirements for the new legislation.